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Consider the Costs

The expenses involved in the mare's insemination and birthing are just the beginning; after that, there will be bills related to the foal's upkeep and the veterinarian's visits - all during the early years when your animal is too young to ride.

Ultimately, the cost of breeding and raising a horse to the age of three is about the same as buying an adult horse.

What To Do From Foal To Three

There are a number of things that a young horse must be taught, such as how to halter lead, how to have his feet handled, and how to adjust to wearing blankets, and it's vital that he learns these basics while he's still little.

It won't work to wait to do this type of instruction when you're start riding. When handled expertly, your young horse will be able to sidestep the sort of mistakes that are hard to correct later in life. If you don't take a firm hand with him as a youngster, your adorable little foal may turn into an oversized monster.

How To Treat A Three-Year-Old

By the time your horse is three, he's ready to learn how to wear a saddle and accept a rider. It doesn't matter if you've been learning horse riding through the three years of your horse's youth, you still won't have the necessary experience to break him in on the saddle or to train him. No matter how you feel about him, you really shouldn't try this! A guaranteed recipe for disaster is combining a green horse with a green rider.

So you'll have to hire someone to train your horse on riding fundamentals. Give yourself a few more years, and eventually you'll have the expertise to train a young horse; meanwhile, pay a professional trainer to take care of your animal.

To Re-Cap

There's nothing more thrilling than riding a horse that you have bred and raised - but only if you're an experienced rider. One of the best ways to learn how to ride and handle horses is to work with an older horse who is familiar with the ways of people. Do this, and before long you'll be ready to breed the horse of your dreams.

Resource: By Jim Milton

Jim Milton teaches beginners to horse riding how to feel confident around their horses in no time. His horse riding training website provides complete horseback lessons with video demonstrations and includes a huge horse related publications.